This is a list of submitted names in which the usage is African or Hawaiian.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Wararni m BerberMeans "without victor, without conqueror" in Amazigh.
Wariboko f IjawDerived from the Ijaw word
wari meaning "house" and
boko meaning "harbinger of riches".
Warsame m SomaliMeans "good news", derived from Somali
war meaning "information, news" and
same "good, positive".
Warsan f SomaliMeans "good news", derived from Somali
war meaning "news" combined with the Somali feminine name suffix -
san, itself a derivative of Somali
wanaagsan meaning "good". A notable bearer of this name is Warsan Shire (1988-), a British writer, poet, editor and teacher of Somali descent.
Willanie f AfrikaansWillanie is a female compound name. The "Will" is derived from "Willem" (German variant of William) which means determination and will. The "anie" is derived from the name Stephanie which means crown, victorious... [
more]
Woldemariam m AmharicMeans "child of
Mary" in Amharic. A notable bearer of this name is Yosef Wolde-Mariam, a member of the Norwegian musical duo Madcon.
Wole m Yoruba“God has come home, God has entered, wealth has come home”.
Wongel f AmharicAmharic word for "gospel," commonly chosen by Christian families
Wuraola f YorubaMeans "gold of wealth" or "shining treasure of wealth" in Yoruba.
Xalwo f SomaliMeans "sweet" in Somali. It is the name of a Somali dessert.
Xirsi m SomaliThis Somali name means "safeguard." The word xirsi also means "safeguard." The x in Somali is a voiceless pharyngeal fricative, a throaty sound that is not present in English. Somalis outside of Somalia may spell the name as HIRSI or HERSI.
Xola m & f XhosaMeans "be at peace" or "to forgive" in Xhosa.
Xolo m & f XhosaPossibly related to Xhosa
uxolo "peace, pardon", itself from
-xola "to be calm, at peace, happy; to forgive".
Yabaal m SomaliMeaning: Yabaal generally means "one who is ambitious" or "strives for success."... [
more]
Yakasu m BaribaMeans "bush" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born in the bush.
Yaƙutu f HausaRefers to a sapphire, ruby, jacinth, corundum, or similar stone.
Yambo m Western AfricanA famous bearer was Yambo Ouologuem (1940–2017) a Malian writer. Possibly from the Dogon language.
Yananiso f ShonaMeaning “togetherness; bringing or binding together”.
Yande f & m MwangaPossibly means "an expression of joy" or "an unexpected gift from God" in Mwanga.
Yandé f Serer, Western AfricanMeaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name was the Senegalese singer Yandé Codou Sène (1932-2010), who belonged to the Serer ethnic group.
Yao m BaouléDerived from Baoulé
ya "Friday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Friday".
Yar f DinkaRefers to a specific kind of cow in Dinka.
Yeabsira f & m AmharicMeans "The Father's (God's) work" of Amharic origin, the official language of Ethiopia.
Yedder m Berber (Rare)Though this name symbolizes immortality, it indicates a sense of unbroken spirit or uncaptured soul.
Yeddes m TuaregMeans "he will be organised", from the Tuareg verb
ddes meaning "organised".
Yeggul-ngon m & f WolofWolof 'death prevention' name meaning "s/he has not reached the afternoon".
Yemetle f SothoMeans "beautiful (referred to an object)" in Sotho.
Yemi m & f YorubaMeans "I am honourable" in Yoruba.
Yendi f African, Jamaican PatoisThis is the name of a town in northeastern Ghana. A famous bearer is Yendi Phillips, she is a Jamaican TV Host, model and beauty queen who the winner of the Miss Jamaica World 2007 beauty pageant, as well as the Miss Jamaica Universe 2010 pageant.
Yennenga f MossiYennenga is a legendary princess, and is considered to be the mother of the Mossi people. Her son Ouedraogo was the founder of the Mossi Kingdoms.
Yesa f & m PunuMeans "chance, luck" in Punu.
Yeshi f AmharicMeans "for a thousand". This name is often combined with other names (
Yeshimebet is an example).
Yeuko f & m ShonaMeaning "remembrance", it derives from the verb
kuyeuka.
Yevedzo f ShonaMeaning "captivation; fascination", deriving from the verb
kuyevedza meaning "to captivate; to make one gaze".
Yezo m Fula, Western AfricanA name used by the Fula people, who are the largest ethnic group in Western Africa and the Sahel.
Yinlayefa f IjawMeans "nothing can be compared to a mother" in Ijaw.
Yohance m African American (Rare), Hausa (?)Used by American comedian, writer and civil rights activist Dick Gregory for his son born 1973. According to a 1973 issue of
Jet magazine, Gregory and his wife Lillian found the name in a book called
Names from Africa, and Yohance 'means "God's gift" in the Hausa language of Nigeria.'
Yolani f & m South African, Xhosa (?)Likely from Xhosa
yolani meaning "you all, be pleasant", itself the imperative plural form of
yoli ("to be pleasant").
Yombo f AfricanMeaning unknown. A name originating from Nigeria.
Yoon f BaribaName traditionally given to the first born daughter.
Yostima f EthiopianBuried at Daza, virgin daughter of a King. Saint in the Ethiopian/Abyssinian Church's Coptic Calendar.